Comparing weapons...

[The Oracle]

One of my all time favourite battle proven weapons is the Nepali and Indian Kukri (Indian version has a tulwar handle).

I see it as similar to the barong in many ways - albeit it being able to hook and chop more due to its thick/heavy spine and inward curved blade.

I have practiced with this a little in the past - I was just wondering if anyone else here had any experience of it/and what people think of it.

Thanks.

http://www.khukuriblades.com/products/details.php?id=313836fc4c1

Also, please use this thread to discuss/compare other weapons from around the world!

[Simon]

Nice example of the kukri there.

GM Yuli whilst in Singapore sought out some Gerkhas to see them in action.

I also have a Kukri made from Kamagong wood. When I discussed this with GM he designed his "Tarak" sword and latterly the "Tarak Pisaw" which is featured on my website. He says it comes from the island of Palawan and it certainly is an interesting design.

I just have to wait for him to come back from Morocco to make me some more now...

[The Oracle]

Thanks simon, could you post a pic of the  tarak and tarak pisaw.  Also, a translation of the name would be nice.

Cheers,

[Propaganda]

The Katana Blade is my best weapon. I like it if i could find two about 25" in length with a complete wood handle and scabbard.I know everyone will say the Katana blade is everyones best but check the link. this particular sword is bad(not bad meaning bad but bad meaning good)lol and pretty close to what I want. In the movie this sword came from, was the first katana of this kind I saw.

http://www.japaneseswords4samurai.com/product.php?PID=501

[The Oracle]

Straight Japanese blades and handles is that they are used very differently to Philipino/BZ method... where as BZ is fluid/subtle with intricate footwork and repetitive strikes, Japanese styles are very solid with little follow up attack (swordplay) - maybe they don't intend to need a 2nd stike lol. 

In itself, the style is very effecitve for those trained properly in it, but IMHO the blades would nowhere near be compatible with Philipino styles...  not that they need to be lol.

[Propaganda]

Well as I said 25" , not the full length.
Its like two small swords or long knives. Anyway to me a blade is a blade and a sword is a sword no matter what style. PG Ah Loong said that when he holds his butterfly knives he uses in wing chun, he can use them in the Bahad Zubu style/idea. plus i feel when you master a style/idea and hold a different weapon (sword,knife,stick or spear) you can change it slightly to adjust to suit your style/idea, weather its a different sword, or weapon . like how we in the Bahad Zubu style/idea adjust the bio-stick to fit the kampilan Sword

Kampilan/Bio-Stick Demo

"awesome!" [url=http://www.Yuli-Romo.com]www.Yuli-Romo.com

- GM Yuli Romo - Kampilan Sword[/url]

Bahad Zubu Bio-Stick / Kampilan

[Propaganda]

I saw this website ages ago and wanna get this knife called the RAVEN WSK Wilderness Survival Knife. i think it beautiful and well made ,well it looks it.
here is the link to see for yourself
http://redscorpionsix.com/catalog/edged-weapons-and-tools/raven-wsk-wilderness-survival-knife

yes i know it now sold out. lol

[Asd]

My 2 cents after reading this, if someone interested:
http://redscorpionsix.com/catalog/edged-weapons-and-tools/cold-steel-special-forces-spetsnaz-shovel

I can say our military forces never had that high-tec things! There are 2 models of shovels in Russian army. One is MPL-50 (МПЛ-50) - small infantry shovel model 1950. Yes, it is sharp enough to hew small trees and make some firewood. Yes, every Russian infantry soldier has to wear it on his belt on the back handle down. Yes, many of them sharpen their shovels and add the loop to use in fight. During riots in 1970s-1980s infantry often used it against marchers both in sheathes and without it. No one complain about effectiveness, shovels were the most deadly weapon right after assault rifles ... As you can see on picture, shovel is made from ordinal steel, not heatreated. 
Better look for pics here:
http://talks.guns.ru/forum_light_message/114/351430-m8191733.html.

The second shovel is folding. Here is it:
http://desantura.ru/forums/uploads/post-108-1134252088.jpg
It was used very little time in 1980s and then offered as tourist equipment

The "special" shovel for Spetsnaz is nothing more then commercial myth! Right the opposite - Spetsnaz has few shovels because they need not dig trenches!

[The Oracle]

That is deadly and useful both!  Thanks for the info.

Are there any videos demonstrating its martial use?

[Ah Loong]

Anything, used correctly, can be a weapon and any weapon, in the right hands, can be deadly regardless of whether it belongs to 'that particular system of combat'. The way weapons are used and/or designed in many way reflect the mentality and approach taken by specific groups (e.g. Japanese, Filipinos. Indians, etc) to combat. Some favour 'precise cut (i.e. Japanese), some prefer hacking (Indian styles perhaps) and some  deliver a series of cuts and stabs like in Zu'bu. Compare karate to wing chun; karate still favours one big strike whereas wing chun delivers a series of flowing strikes and so on.

[The Oracle]

The style can pretty much be identified by the weapon of choice, looking at the plethora of traditional Indonesian/Filipino swords, we can see that some are clearly designed for singular deadly lops, whilst others are designed for cutting/slashing.

Indian systems (just adding to what PG Ah Loong wrote) offer a plethora of styles - as can be seen by plethora of weaponary - there are many blades that serve for stabbing only such as the chhoor, others are designed for piercing body armour such as the Pesh Kabz and certain kataars (which have bulbous tips), others for cuting and drawing, others for lopping i.e Tegha and Khanda, whilst some weapons are so innovative they serve dual purpose.

As PG Ah Loong says, whats more important is the knowledge and skill of the user - when the playing field is equalised i.e. an advanced battlefield, this is where I believe the correct choice and quality of weaponary makes a difference.

Re hacking, that specialism clearly lies in the hands of the Nepalese - Master Gurkhas!  Although I so some deadly looking Filipino top heavy (squared/flared) blades, which I think also had a thicker spine and must have been used in a similar way to the Khukri or Kora.

The Kora is very scary weapon - here's one from a 150 year old sketch:

Here is a photo of one... as I said, I have seen squared - flared weapons in the Filipino family also, so I guess they would have been used in a similar fashion...

http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=1786

[Karlsmith]

Thanks simon, could you post a pic of the  tarak and tarak pisaw.  Also, a translation of the name would be nice.

Cheers,

here is a common google image to get a idea about "tarak pisaw"



this is made by GM Yuli Romo. as the source web site says there are only 8 made ( I don't think that's correct ). This weapon is very easy to use and doesn't give any pain to fingers or hand.

[Admin]

Hi Karl,

Welcome to the forum

The above image are my Kamagong Bowie's made by another craftsman.

The image you are looking for is here:



I can confirm that only 8 were ever made.

As well as being the owner of this site I am also the owner of "www.eskrimakaliarnis.com".

I do not even have one of those blades for myself. Master Yuli is too busy now teaching visiting students and going overseas to make any more.

It's a shame as that particular design received a really good response. It is possible that I might get it made elsewhere with blunt metal and a wood handle but it depends if GM Yuli will allow me to use his design.

Simon.

[imas560]

Hello,
when I saw the post awhile ago mentioning the kukri I made up a clip with some footage of Master Yuli wielding a large wooden trainer similar to a kukri. Hope this works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mtNsWYJBAA